($1,508+) Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA Movers
Moving from Newark, NJ, to Oakland, CA, runs anywhere from $1,508 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,745 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,886 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,454, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $11,745 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,949 - $6,861, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,508 - $4,457.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Newark, NJ, to Oakland, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,889 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Moving options from Newark to Oakland fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,889 - $7,202 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 34% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 57% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 2,886-mile route typically takes 7 to 21 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,886-mile route from Newark to Oakland, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,454 for a studio up to $11,745 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,949 - $6,861 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $1,508 - $4,457, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,841 - $5,604, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Newark, New Jersey, to Oakland, California, costs between $2,454 and $11,745. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 2,886-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $478 - $3,188, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Newark and Oakland. For a rough baseline, movers based in Newark tend to start around $260 plus $120/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Newark to Oakland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,454 - $5,807
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,889 - $7,202
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,890 - $11,745
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Newark to Oakland.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 62% of Newark movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Oakland, 53% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing72% of local movers | $797 - $7,970 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready62% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $319 - $1,913/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $478 - $3,826 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs47% of local movers | $1,594 - $4,782 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,985 - $15,940 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,194 - $2,268 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items31% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $1,594 - $3,985 |
| Piano | Any piano type39% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: White Glove Moving & Storage | $1,275 - $5,579 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $478 - $2,391 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect3% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (NJ) | $1,036 - $3,188 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $478 - $23,910+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $478 - $5,579+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Newark to Oakland?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Newark, NJ. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Moving containers from Newark, New Jersey, to Oakland, California, cost between $1,949 and $6,861. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Newark costs roughly $130/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Newark to Oakland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,949 - $3,947
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,579 - $5,025
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,455 - $6,861
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $120 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $239 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Oakland, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $1,116 in Newark, NJ. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a New Jersey to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,949. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,579 - $5,025.
What are the best moving containers Newark to Oakland?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Newark to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Newark:
- Piece of Cake Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- Moishe's Moving Systems (4.5/5), 33 years in business
- Big G Movers Inc (4.9/5), 13 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Truck rentals from Newark, New Jersey, to Oakland, California, range from $1,508 - $4,457 for the 2,886-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,464 - $1,673
- Daily insurance: $48/day
- Equipment rentals: $11 - $32
- Newark daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $0.99
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Newark to Oakland based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,508 - $3,141
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,685 - $3,522
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,218 - $4,457
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,508 - $4,457 when pricing out a rental truck from Newark to Oakland. Fuel alone runs $1,464 - $1,673, and overnight lodging ($239/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Newark, New Jersey, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,116.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,464 - $1,673 for the 2,886-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $96 and $518, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $239 per night for hotel stops on the 2,886-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $478 - $717.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Newark to Oakland?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Newark, New Jersey, to Oakland, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,922 and $4,231.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Newark to Oakland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,841 - $3,451
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,922 - $4,231
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,820 - $5,604
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $120 - $239 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Newark, New Jersey, typically costs $1,116.
What are the best freight companies from Newark to Oakland?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Newark, NJ vs Oakland, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Oakland, side by side with Newark on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Newark, NJ | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 135 | 196 |
| Average rent | $2,300/mo | $2,200/mo |
| Median home value | $335,418 | $925,411 |
| Average income | $48,416/yr | $97,369/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 13.0% | 4.5% |
| State income tax | Up to 10.7% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 76/100 | 75/100 |
| Safety index | 24.76/100 | 31.38/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Oakland, CA to Newark, NJ guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from New Jersey to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 315 movers in our New Jersey network to compare for this 2,886-mile move.
Our take
A move from Newark, NJ, to Oakland, CA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $2,454 - $11,745 on the 2,886-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,949 - $6,861, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $1,508 - $4,457. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $3,889 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Kaiser Permanente and Dreyer's.
FAQs: Moving from Newark, NJ, to Oakland, CA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
How much does it cost to move from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $1,508 to $11,745, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,454 and $11,745, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What is the cheapest way to move from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,685 - $3,522. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($1,464 - $1,673), daily insurance ($48/day), and equipment rentals ($11 - $32) on top. Overnight stops can add another $239/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Newark, NJ to Oakland, CA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 7 to 21 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What percentage of Newark movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 39% of movers in Newark handle piano moves, and 31% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.